Five Levels of Pleasure

Life is full of pleasures. But some are a quantum leap above the rest.

What pleasures does a parent want his children to enjoy? Good food, fun vacations, tennis, music. Wonderful!

But when they turn 25 and would still rather play tennis than work, you start thinking, "Get on with your life, already." It's nice to enjoy an occasional game of tennis, but life has got to offer more than just "fun." You'd like your children to have a meaningful career, to get married, to have children.

If they turn 35 and they are playing tennis day and night, you're screaming, "Help!"

Judaism says that God is our Father in Heaven, and we are His children. Just like any parent, God wants His children to enjoy life's pleasures.

There are five different levels of pleasure – each a class unto itself.

The Pleasure Plane

The different classes of pleasure can be compared to seats on an airplane. The best way to travel is first class. The second best way? Second class. Of course nobody wants to think of themselves as traveling second class, so they call it Business Class, Executive Class, or Ambassador Class.

Third class? That's Tourist, Coach, or Economy.

What's fourth class? They put you down below with the animals in the baggage compartment.

Fifth class? They give you a rope and say, "Hang on!"

Everybody would rather travel first class. But some people never figure out how. They travel their whole life in fifth class, just barely hanging on. And, the sad thing is, sometimes it becomes too hard and they let go.

The Measure of Pleasure

Each of these five classes of pleasures is so unique that you cannot exchange 10 units of fifth class pleasure for even one unit of fourth class pleasure. If you were starving, would you trade a good meal for a sky view of Manhattan? Would you trade the love of your life for a beach front home on the Riviera?

One pleasure cannot be measured against another. So how do you assign a value to any given pleasure?

Imagine pleasure as horsepower, giving you energy.

Imagine pleasure as horsepower. Pleasure gives you energy. If you have pleasure, you are raring to go with the confidence to tackle difficult jobs. You can put up with a lot of aggravation, because the power you get from pleasure propels you.

In trying to evaluate the worth of a given pleasure, ask yourself: When I eat ice cream, how much pleasure, how much energy, do I get from it? If I listen to music, how much energy do I get? If I love someone, how energized does that make me feel? Is that more, or less, than eating an ice cream cone? That's a rational way of measuring it.

Counterfeit Pleasures

Sometimes, people believe they are getting real pleasure – but they get cheated. For example, sex is a real pleasure, but pornography is counterfeit. It only stimulates lust, and you end up depressed instead of energized. It may seem exciting at first, but excitement and energy are not the same and should not be confused.

The most widely sold counterfeit pleasure in the Western world is decadence. Here's why it is counterfeit:

When asked what is the opposite of pain, most people will say pleasure. But the absence of pain doesn't automatically equal pleasure!

The opposite of pain is not pleasure; the opposite of pain is comfort. Many people think the ultimate pleasure is a vacation in Hawaii – sacking out on a waterbed, a cool breeze wafting through the window, a tall drink, every muscle in your body relaxed. But don't let yourself fall asleep – because then you'll miss the whole thing!

Sleep and comfort is painless. But that is not the goal of living!

In reality, pain is the price you pay for pleasure. If you want to graduate college and get a good job, you have to study hard. If you want to become an Olympic gold-medal champion, you have to experience the pain of sore muscles. You are not going to get there on a beach in Hawaii.

Equating comfort with pleasure is counterfeit. Real pleasure comes only as a result of effort.

The Price of Pleasure

To succeed in the pursuit of pleasure, you have to focus on the pleasure and not on the effort.

Imagine a team of basketball players, running around the court, pushing themselves to the limit. Do they notice the pain they're feeling? Barely. The pleasure of playing overwhelms any other feeling.

Now what if you asked them to conduct the following experiment:

"Play basketball normally – run, jump, shoot, and defend. But this time do it without the ball!"

How long do you think they could play for? Maybe five minutes? Without the ball, there is nothing to distract them from the effort. Every step now seems painful.

Give them back the ball, and they'll play for another two hours!

In life, keep your eye on the ball. Focus on the goal – and turn every effort into a pleasure.

Learning to Enjoy Pleasure

We think that pleasure should come automatically. But it's not so simple. Just like you can't fully enjoy music without taking a course in music appreciation, so too you have to learn all about pleasures.

If we wouldn't guzzle vintage wine, shouldn't we accord the same respect to life itself?

It's like wine tasting. Wine is far more than a liquid that wets your mouth and gets you tipsy. If you want to be a connoisseur, first you have to examine the cork. Then you test the color of the wine. Then you swish it around the glass. (That's called "checking the legs.") Then you smell the bouquet. Only then do you taste the wine, savoring it slowly, letting the taste and texture permeate all the different taste zones of your mouth.

Our world is rich with bounty and treasures. Sights and smells. Relationships and energies. Potential and achievement. If we wouldn't guzzle vintage wine, then shouldn't we accord the same respect to life itself?

In summary, remember the three criteria that apply to all classes of pleasure:

There is no exchange rate between the various levels of pleasure.

Watch out for counterfeit pleasures.

For every pleasure, the price tag is effort.

Fifth Class Pleasure

Fifth class pleasure is the most basic and available. It's physical and material pleasure. Good food, nice clothes, comfortable home, pleasant music, beautiful scenery. This includes anything that involves the "five senses."

God made the physical world for us to enjoy. The Talmud says that if a person has the opportunity to taste a new fruit and refuses to do so, he will have to account for that in the next world.

What's so special about fruits? God could have created bland mush with all the vitamins and minerals necessary for our survival. But fruits are the dessert the Almighty made for us. It's a labor of love. Can you imagine making a scrumptious dinner for a loved one and then he refuses to try it?! But there is a difference between tasting fruits and gorging fruits. And this is the counterfeit of fifth class pleasure – too much of a good thing. When you partake of fifth class pleasure without savoring this gift, you end up not being able to enjoy it. Wine is wonderful in moderation; guzzling a whole bottle will make you throw up. Stuffing your face with food leaves you feeling lowered by the experience, not energized.

The key is awareness. When you are aware, you won't lose control and allow your appetites to rule over you.

This does not mean to suggest ascetism or celibacy. Physical pleasures are from God and are meant to be enjoyed. Sex is considered one of the holiest acts we can perform. In fact, the Hebrew word for the marriage ceremony – kiddushin – comes from the word kadosh, meaning "holy." That's why on Shabbat, the holiest day of the week, the Talmud specifically enjoins couples to have marital relations.

Enjoy all the physical aspects of this world. That's the fifth class pleasure which God, Our Father, created for His children to enjoy.

Fourth Class Pleasure

As we said earlier, there is no exchange rate. No amount of fifth class pleasure can buy you even one morsel of fourth class pleasure.

What is worth more than all the money in the world?

Love.

Here's proof:

Imagine Mr. Schwartz, an investment banker in a major Wall Street financial firm. He spends most of his days trying to reach his lifelong goal of earning $10 million. He and his wife have three kids.

One day, a wealthy philanthropist named Cohen decides to make Schwartz a very generous offer. Cohen says, "You're spending your whole life trying to make $10 million dollars. So I'll give you the biggest shortcut of your financial career. I'll give you $10 million dollars right now for the right to adopt one of your children. Your child will have the best of everything. The only condition is that you will have to break off all contact – you will not be able to see or hear from your child again."

What does Schwartz say? His financial dream in an instant! But to give up a child? Impossible. "No deal. Get out of my office."

Ten million dollars. A mind-boggling amount of fifth class pleasure won't induce him to sell one child. Love is not worth trading for any amount of money.

But how much time does Schwartz spend with his children? If they are so precious, why does he forgo this pleasure of loving his kids?

After his encounter with Cohen, Schwartz has a flash of inspiration: "I have to spend more time with my treasures!" He buzzes his secretary and announces he's taking a two week vacation to spend with his kids.

Schwartz rushes home. After struggling for an hour to get the stroller open, he finally makes it to the park. He and the kids are having a grand time. But then comes dinner, bath and story time. After enduring food fights, floods in the bathtub and endless readings of "Babar Goes to the Circus," Schwartz flops down on the couch, turns to his wife and says, "Perhaps I was a bit hasty taking that two week vacation..."

Learning to Love

Schwartz knows that his children are more valuable than $10 million. But he doesn't know how to enjoy this pleasure.

The first step is to get a definition of "love."

The Talmud defines love as the emotional pleasure we get when focusing on the virtues of another. If you do that, then even if the kids are throwing meatballs across the room, you can still love them (and discipline them at the same time).

Without a clear understanding of what love is, all you'll be able to focus on is the effort and pain involved in raising kids, and you'll come to conclude that it's just too taxing.

What is the average parent's greatest "pleasure?" Their children.

What is the average parent's greatest "pain?" Also their children.

It's not an accident that a parent's greatest pleasure is also the source of his or her greatest pain. Because the greater the pleasure, the greater the effort required.

Therefore, if you want to succeed in life, the key is not to eliminate pain entirely – that is impossible. Rather, focus on the pleasure which you receive as a reward for all that effort.

Love vs. Infatuation

The counterfeit of love is the notion that it is effort-free – something that just happens to you. Love is a stroke of fate with no rhyme or reason. You don't work on loving people. It either happens or it doesn't. Therefore just as easily as you "fall in love," you can "fall out of love."

Bob and Sue are alone in the park, walking beneath the full moon. Cupid flies by and shoots an arrow. Presto – Bob and Sue are madly in love!

They get married, have kids, a big house, a heavy mortgage. Bob works hard to pay the bills, staying overtime at the office. While Bob is working late one night with his secretary Carol, Cupid sneaks up and shoots another arrow. Boing! Now Bob's in love with Carol.

Bob returns home to Susie and proclaims, "I fell in love with the secretary. But what can I do, honey, the bum shot me!"

Out goes Susie, in comes Carol.

The problem? Bob did not delve into an exploration of character and then fall in love after coming to a deep understanding of who she is. Bob's love is not based on commitment and effort to reveal virtues.

The more intimate the knowledge, the more you can love.

The Bible says that "Adam knew his wife Eve." Love is built on knowledge. The more intimate the knowledge, the more you can love.

But the Western world thinks that love is not something you choose, love is something you are a "victim of." So if you want to stay married, all you can do is hope that you don't get shot by Cupid again! Is it any surprise that there is a 50 percent rate of divorce?

Infatuation is not love, it's just physical attraction, the counterfeit. Real love is forever.

We see this in the relationship between parents and children. No parent ever gets up in the morning and decides: "I've decided I like the neighbors' kids better. They don't cough at night, and they get better math scores. You kids get out. The neighbors are moving in."

Crazy, right? We don't fall out of love with our kids, because we're committed to loving them.

How do you know if you are in love or infatuated? If you hear yourself saying, "He's perfect," or "She's perfect!" then beware! That's not reality. That's a sure sign of infatuation.

Real love takes work. You have to be willing to make the effort.

Third Class Pleasure

What in the world could compel someone to give up what they love most dearly?

A cause. The drive to do make a difference in the world. The desire for greater meaning in life. The need to do the right thing.

Imagine that terrorists have taken a plane hostage and they turn to you: "Kill all the other passengers, or we will kill you and your children."

You still cannot do it. You cannot kill innocent people even if it means saving your own family. You'd rather die.

In Judaism we say: If you don't know what you are willing to die for, then you haven't begun to live. Otherwise you are merely playing a game. If you don't have meaning in your life, then all the physical enjoyments, the beautiful vacations and even the wonderful spouse and children, can make you feel that something is missing.

Learning to Appreciate Goodness

It takes great effort to be a genuinely good person. But most people never reach this goal. They end up being "not bad" – that is, they don't murder, steal, or commit adultery. But being good is much more than just "being not bad."

So why don't we try? Because the responsibility involved seems like a burden instead of a pleasure.

You are on vacation in New York City, sightseeing in one of those excursion boat rides around Manhattan Island. As you are admiring the Statue of Liberty, one of the other sightseers falls off the boat. He can't swim – he's drowning. So you jump into the East River – filthy with garbage, dead fish – but you don't care, you are trying to save a life. You grab him, he struggles – you go under the murky water – finally he stops struggling, but now he is heavy as lead – you pull him with all your might – you are gasping, the water stinks.

Finally, after what seems like eternity, you drag him to the shore. People are there to lend a hand, and an ambulance takes the drowning victim to the hospital. Thank God, he's alive, coughing and spitting a little murky water, but he's gonna be okay. You go back to your hotel and take a dozen showers to wash off the muck and smell of rotting fish. You say, "I'm never coming back here for the rest of my life!"

Now 30 years and 100 vacations later, what is your most memorable vacation? It was the time the guy fell off the boat and you saved a life!

It's great to take pleasure in doing a good thing in retrospect. But why not proactively look for the opportunity to do good? And even more – focus on the good you while you are doing it! Wouldn't that be some pleasure high?

Looking Good vs. Being Good

Sometimes people will perform acts of courage that are really stupid. Kids play "Russian Roulette" or "Chicken" and they get killed. They get confused and think they are doing the noble thing. This is one counterfeit of third class pleasure.

Western society has another version of counterfeit third class pleasure: financial success. You can be a good husband, a good friend, a loyal human being, a thinker, and an intellectual – but if you haven't made a lot of money, you are a failure.

A few years ago, a Brink's delivery truck lost several bags of money. The back door flew open and millions of dollars tumbled into the street, scattering the money in the wind. Everybody grabbed what they could. But there was one fellow who walked into the bank and returned $50,000.

The press interviewed his father, who said: "My son is a wimp!" And they interviewed one of his fellow workers, who said, "God gave him a gift, and the idiot gave it back."

"I'm a stockbroker, a vice president of marketing, a Harvard graduate."

The counterfeit of "being good" is "looking good." Too many people expend enormous effort trying to win the admiration of others. That's why people so readily identify themselves by profession or career. "I'm a stockbroker, a vice president of marketing, a Harvard graduate." If others are impressed, it reassures us that we're important.

Don't fall for "looking" good. True goodness comes from doing the right thing.

What made Alfred Nobel, the wealthy Swedish businessman, establish the Nobel Prize?

Nobel was the inventor of dynamite and one of the world's largest producers of explosives. When his brother died, the local newspaper made a mistake and printed Alfred's obituary instead of his brother's. When Alfred Nobel read it and saw that his life amounted to so much destruction and killing, he was devastated. "This is my life?! I've got to do something good." It was then that he decided to establish the Nobel Prize for those who do good in the world.

Second Class Pleasure

Second class pleasure can be best identified by its counterfeit. For what goal will people sacrifice innocent lives? To obtain power.

Stalin, Idi Amin, Hitler – a long list of tyrants were willing to kill millions to get power. To create a Communist state. To create a world dominated by the pure Aryan race. But that kind of power is counterfeit. That power only destroys.

True second class pleasure is the power of creativity. For example, the artist has control over his eye, his arm, and the paint, in order to translate his ideas into reality. He takes inert matter and turns into something productive, useful, beautiful.

But people sometimes make the mistake of going for forced control. The dictator is manipulating the pieces, but in the process is destroying lives and society. It's only an illusion of creativity.

The way to tell if you are creating or controlling is by the result. Creativity gives other people pleasure. Control leads to destruction.

Which would you rather be: a worker or the boss? Even though a company cannot function without workers, there is greater satisfaction in being the boss. Rather than simply following orders, you have the power to create, to direct, to plan and to conceive. You tap into the source of creative power – wisdom and understanding.

Similarly, one of the greatest forms of second class pleasure is creating a family: giving birth to children, then inculcating them with values, and molding them into healthy, productive, caring individuals.

Why is creativity such a thrill? Because it touches the essence of God. The ultimate expression of creativity was God's creation of the world. He made something from absolutely nothing. Only an Infinite Being can do that. Expressing our own creativity is a taste of that power.

First Class Pleasure

Imagine someone who has mastered the four classes of pleasure. She enjoys enormous wealth and material pleasures, a beautiful loving family, meaning in life, power used to create good in the world. Yet there's still something missing.

An encounter with God.

No human being is totally satisfied unless she's in touch with the transcendent dimension. When all is said and done, what we each seek is to reach out of this finite world and connect with the infinite. To become one with God.

What if I said to you, "I have a room where you can sit down and speak to God Almighty Himself for an hour." Wouldn't you jump at the chance? Wouldn't that be the ultimate experience?

It would be awesome.

We've all had moments when we've been struck by the awesomeness of life – the birth of a baby, seeing the stars above us, watching a lightning storm. It takes our breath away.

Awe is the experience of merging our small, relatively insignificant selves with something much greater. We break beyond our own limitations and connect to the unity of God.

First class pleasure is incomparable to any other experience. Nothing finite, nothing bound up in this world, can compare to the infinite.

Gratitude Attitude

For the greatest pleasure, we have to pay the greatest price. Gratitude.

In order to connect with God, you have to learn to appreciate all the good He has done for you. That means giving up the illusion that you alone are responsible for your achievements. It's all a gift from God. Just as every stroke of Picasso's brush has his signature on it, everything in this world has God's signature on it. We have to learn to appreciate it.

Everything in this world has God's signature on it.

If you make the effort to appreciate the gifts God has bestowed upon you, then you'll have such a keen awareness of God's presence that everything you do is accompanied by a sense of His love and guidance. You'll be overwhelmed above and beyond any other pleasure possible.

In fact, this is the ultimate goal for which man was created. We were put on earth in order to overcome the illusions and use our free will to build a relationship with God. He could have made robots, but God doesn't want that. He wants a real relationship – which means we have to choose it.

Why is gratitude such a difficult awareness to sustain? Because a human being's ego always craves recognition and independence. We balk at the concept of indebtedness. We prefer to believe we've done it ourselves!

Another counterfeit of first class pleasure is thinking that someone or something else is providing for our needs. If you think your career or your lover is the bottom line that will fulfill your needs, then you are mistaken. Because all those things can disappear. Only God has absolute power and only God is Eternal!

Reaching for the Stars

Imagine the launch of a rocket ship. When the fifth stage ignites there is lift-off. In the fourth stage of ignition, the rocket pierces the atmosphere at 100 miles per second. The third stage propels the rocket into orbit. The second stage puts the rocket on a path to a specific destination. And finally, the first stage lands you on the moon.

So too with the five levels of pleasure. Fifth stage is physical pleasure, giving you energy for lift-off. But if you don't get to fourth stage – marriage, children, love – plop. But what really puts you into orbit is self-respect, meaning, and doing good in the world. Once you're in orbit, you still need the propulsion of second stage – power – to hurl you toward your destination. And finally, the first stage is living with God.

In Judaism, Shabbat represents our opportunity to enjoy all the classes of pleasure in one day. First you have a table set with a beautiful white tablecloth, the best china and silverware, flowers, a brightly lit candelabra, delicious food and wine. That's fifth class pleasure, lift-off. Then, you give your children a blessing and some hugs and kisses, and as you all sit down around the table together, the warmth of family shines. You have love, fourth class pleasure, and you are traveling a mile a minute. If you sing some inspirational songs and speak words of Torah, then you understand the meaning and depth of the day, and you're now in orbit. If you know what your goals in life are, that's the power of second class pleasure. And then you reach the purpose of the day – connection with God.

Know what you're living for. The Almighty created us to have pleasure. It's hard work to be an Olympic runner, and it's even harder work to become a champion human being. But you weren't born for comfort. You were born to have pleasure. So make a decision. Travel first class.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 72

(72)
Anonymous,
June 12, 2014 6:36 AM

It was a pleasure reading your article [although I'm not sure on which level that pleasure it was... :)]
Truly inspiring and moving.
Thank you!

(71)
Jeffrey E.,
May 7, 2014 7:04 AM

I am a big hockey fan, and made plans to watch a playoff game tonight at a friend’s house, even though my daughter wanted me to stay home and study with her. After listening to Rabbi Weinberg’s 5 Levels of pleasure, I decided that my daughter is more important to me than the Bruins (and I told her so). Thanks, Rabbi Weinberg, for your far-reaching influence. Thanks, Aish.com, for making rabbi Weinberg’s lectures available to the public. I wish you much success in the future.

(70)
SIMCHA,
November 27, 2013 10:27 PM

ITS THE FIRS KEY

TO BE MARACULAS LIKE GOOD YOU MUST TO GOOD FEARLESLY WITH PASION WITH ALL YOU PASSION AND WILL AND BRAID AND CREATIVITY THEN YOU CAN BE MARACULAS LIKE GOD YOU CAN START WITH SAYING GOOD MORNING WITH ALL YOU GOT (SORRY ABOUT MY SPEALING)

(69)
Maria Dodoc,
July 22, 2013 6:39 PM

Thanks.

Thank You!

(68)
Anonymous,
March 2, 2013 2:14 AM

Just what the doctor ordered

Such an inspiring piece! Just really making me look at life with so much more meaning. Will pass the on to many people.

(67)
karen kaplan,
February 28, 2013 3:30 AM

I think this is one of the most beautiful,positive pieces I have ever read. I want to share it with everyone I know. I would welcome any comments. Shalom and Baruch HaShem

(66)
susannah garbutt,
February 27, 2013 11:41 AM

excellent article

I would just like to say thank you Rabbi Weinberg for such an informative and measured article. It makes a lot of sense and is healthy advice. It also provides guidance via the explanations of each level of pleasure. And it is refreshing to read that sex is not sinful - that we were created to take pleasure in it. I could not agree more with Rabbi Weinberg and his commonsense way of looking at things. Thank you

(65)
Ron,
February 27, 2013 2:21 AM

Nice, uplifting message indeed, this is.

Our reward in serving God is everlasting life. That's the greatest pleasure in living, knowing that we have a home in heaven after all of life's miseries. Our labors will never be in vain. Thanks for a nice article, Rabbi Noah.

(64)
David,
February 18, 2013 1:56 AM

Excellent

Practical, spiritual, true! Thank you for an excellent article.

(63)
Inspired,
January 2, 2013 5:17 AM

Examples

This is totally right and makes sense! Why would one trade a material pleasure like a game on a cell phone or sports for an occurrence of the people they love -their family!I hate when my kids are playing on their devices during family time

(62)
Sylvie B.,
December 17, 2012 10:18 AM

Very inspiring

Thanks for the great article.
It was very inspiring.
I will share !

(61)
Lorraine,
November 6, 2012 1:35 AM

Positive thinking faithfully will bring good to you

(60)
David Sinai,
October 21, 2012 10:13 PM

Wow!!! Well done!!!

(59)
akuma,
September 25, 2012 4:49 AM

I love Τ̣̣ђȋ̝̊̅§ aarticle is so revealing....kudos to the writter

(58)
Jonathan Berman,
August 15, 2012 2:46 AM

Really enjoyed the article, in a way it reminds me of the book The Four Loves written by CS Lewis.

(57)
Doris Jaffe,
April 23, 2012 6:50 AM

5 Levels of Pleasure

This essay should be taught to every high school, yeshiva and seminary student, to guide them on their life's journey. The wisdom contained herein is a necessary teaching needed more today than ever before to ensure young adults use these tools to their advantage. May the Rav's holy neshama rise to the highest rungs in Gan Eden. Thank you for being our mentor and teacher, Rav Weinberg.

(56)
Heather McKay,
April 14, 2012 1:00 PM

Awesome and interesting

Great work!

(55)
Lauren Roth,
October 10, 2011 3:57 AM

Heard it 15 years ago & still remember it--it's that good

I heard the tape (yes, tape! no CD's back then!) of this lecture FIFTEEN years ago, and I still remember it and often think of R' Weinberg's ideas expressed herein--that's how powerful these ideas are. R' Weinberg was a giant of a thinker. A true creative genius. I think this article/lecture encapsulates almost every important point regarding how to live your best life.

(54)
Anonymous,
March 15, 2011 4:23 AM

Citation

Can someone please provide a citation for where love is defined in the Talmud as "the emotional pleasure we get when focusing on the virtues of another"?

(53)
ELI,
January 21, 2011 3:44 AM

A MASTERPIECE! I AM TOUCHED TO THE CORE. WHAT AN INSPIRATION!!! I THINK I WILL HAVE A BETTER, MORE MEANINGFUL SHABBOS THAN I HAVE HAD IN A VERY LONG TIME. MAY REB NOACH'S HOLY NESHAMA HAVE AN ALIYA..

(52)
LUCY,
January 18, 2011 4:27 PM

Great way to start the New Year! 2011-stairway to heaven

Thank you and God bless you for this teaching. i was praying for help from God and this was so helpful. May the wisdom/light of the creator conyinue to shine through you and enlighten us.
many blessings
luz

(51)
judy,
January 16, 2011 8:25 PM

Love it.

Love it. Forwarded it on to many of my friends. Judy

(50)
,
October 11, 2010 1:27 PM

Oh what a pleasure, thank you, thank you. I thoroughly appreciate all that this article has to offer, that I gained & the bits of humor as well. Every time I select an article to read on this website, it fits into the events of my life. Including the pleasures & pains of my children. I'm thankful the pleasures they bring far out-weigh the pains. I so enjoyed raising them, a true blessing, and they are priceless gems.
As for the laughter this article brought me: Thank goodness there have not been many times in life that it was a rope handed to me while told to "hang on", but I have been known to fly by the seat of my pants at times! That too can bring pleasure & pain, depending on one's control...and ability to see & enjoy the experience.
And I must add that after reading this article, the immense admiration & great respect I hold for a certain gentleman, while knowing what many would say is very little about him,..well, I'll simply state that my heart swells more. I know enough of him that I know with confidence, what I feel is real. Thank you Mother Nature for teaching me to practice your secret ;~*
And thank you Aish, for the wonderful articles & lessons so lovingly shared.

(49)
Anonymous,
January 31, 2010 10:24 AM

good stuff

I think this is a most ingenious article. Rabbi Noah Weinberg has some really good points, and the world is poorer for his loss. I hope to maybe use this article in a d'var torah someday.

(48)
Anonymous,
January 31, 2010 10:24 AM

Thank you for writing this article, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and found it very inspirational. Whenever I am in doubt of what my purpose is then I will remember the message of this article and try to improve myself. Although, there was something that you wrote which I do not understand, perhaps someone could explain this to me... You wrote: "How do you know if you are in love or infatuated? If you hear yourself saying, "He's perfect," or "She's perfect!" then beware! That's not reality. That's a sure sign of infatuation." Surely if we are in love with someone then we should find them perfect in every way. Of course they are not 'literally' perfect and everyone has their faults, but if we are in love with someone then we will be able to see past that and only see their qualities and therefore find them to be perfect...

(47)
Kathy,
January 31, 2010 10:22 AM

Great!

I love this.

(46)
yossi cohen,,
January 31, 2010 10:22 AM

Alan Marco is wrong

i think you disagree with the second level of pleasure because you flat out dont understand that level of pleasure-out of the 5 levels i dont either understand that one....and regaurding the first level of pleasure the reason most jews wouldnt give up thier childs life like abraham is because most jews never experienced true communion with god and therefore wouldnt know what its like and wouldnt know what thier forfeiting- im sure if they experienced ture communion they would sacrifice thier children

(45)
Anonymous,
January 31, 2010 10:21 AM

Disagree re: 1st and 2nd level pleasures.

In the discussion about the different levels of pleasure it was stated that no amount of a lower pleasure could substitute for a higher level pleasure. Mr. Schwartz, who wanted to make 10 million dollars would never give up his child. Neither would I. However, neither would I give up my child for the opportunity to be creative (a 2nd level pleasure), though I definitely would like to have a creative life. In fact, unlike Abraham, I (and, I have to believe, most Jewish parents that I know) would never give up my child for a chnace for communion with God.

(44)
Anonymous,
January 31, 2010 10:21 AM

You opened my eyes

Considering ive never met a Jew before I wonder how I got onto this site.your steps on the 5 pleasures really did put into perspective the areas I overlooked or underscored,ive had more than enough first class experiences to know my creator but I havnt really gotten to grips with enjoying them yet.It really can be simple,not looking so much in retrospect and enjoying this earth God created.Thank you

(43)
Brian,
January 31, 2010 10:20 AM

inspiring
it's good to have access to such good counsel , like having a roadmap to the right path

(42)
Ronni Marcus,,
January 31, 2010 10:20 AM

'LOOKING GOOD"

Please tell the world! Many look good but are their intentions and actions good for anyone other than themselves?
I used to define myself in the above way...degrees, job title, etc...who cares? Children are suffering. How can I just sit back and continue in a job that is based upon control and perhaps, greed?

(41)
balbir kharay,
January 31, 2010 10:19 AM

I can never thank enough for God doings.

I am a person, no matter of what religion. After reading your articles I really feel great and thankful to you who reminds me of my being really good. I have experienced some moments which I can never explain on the paper.It was real feeling being with some super power which has no beginning and no ending and is ever present in the whole universe. After going through so much in life I have found some place in my own heart where I can be at peace for the rest of my life.

(40)
Yonatan Siman,
January 31, 2010 10:19 AM

Its great!

(39)
Oscar Perla,
January 31, 2010 10:18 AM

Very educationally.

I do apreciated the display of this pages my wife and I read it, and we both ejoyed every chapter in it.
Thank you very much for having this important article.
yours truly. Oscar Perla

(38)
Joey,
August 11, 2009 7:31 PM

Not sure I totally agree with the order and everything, but the Rabbi certainly offered some amazing insights. May God bless his spirit and all he left behind in this world.

(37)
Yishai Menachem,
February 3, 2009 5:25 PM

It's the small things...

Thank you Rabbi,
I would like to also point out that everyone of us has the ability to experience first class pleasure every day. It's compasion for each other. If you see someone that is sad, like Joseph, as them why they are not happy and see what you can do to fix it. May Hashem give you a rafua shlema! I will always remember learning from you. May G-d bless you and keep you, forever and ever. Amen!
All The Best!

(36)
Mary,
August 10, 2008 1:35 PM

liked it and disagree on small points

I very much appreciated the article. Where I differ from the rabbi were his early comments that one cannot enjoy music without a music appreciation class, and one cannot enjoy wine without a wine appreciation class. I personally have always thought we needed a banana sundae appreciation class but putting that aside, do we really need to have a vanilla ice cream appreciation class given by experts? My preverbal one year old grand niece seems to do just fine without a course. I think the wonderful thing about music is that one does not need a class to enjoy music. It not only is universal but even cats and wild animals have been known to come and sit down to listen. Some of the best tunes have been folk songs that composers have borrowed. Maybe I have had rotten teachers but most things that teachers have taught have withered and died with their touch. My best subjects were things I discovered on my own. I once told an interviewer that if I were to teach literature I would have some novels and poems to be read and enjoyed and experienced and others that lent themselves to being critiqued. Why is criticizing fictional literature considered a plus when the writer did not jump through all those hoops in writing. A writer doesn't say "let me create a metaphor and have it run through the book", like I was once asked to write an essay on the use of the sheep metaphor in a Shakespearean play. If Shakespeare didn't do it, and I very much doubt that he did, why should the reader/watcher? It is not part of the creative process and adds nothing.Do we need a travel appreciation course? Do we need an air quality appreciation course? Do we need a color appreciation course for taking a walk? Just a small point. My comments do not apply to Judaism because in fact there is plenty that is hidden and waiting to be discovered in the 5 Books of Moses, and commentary by some wonderful minds through the ages. Thank you for the article.

(35)
Marcel,
April 9, 2008 10:21 AM

Great Topic

Thank you Rabbi Weinberg for a great read. This is an excellent expoloration into one aspect of Jewish identity.

(34)
Anonymous,
February 20, 2008 10:44 AM

amazing!

if only everyone were aware of this we'd all be living such fruitful, inspired lives! I know i have certainly become more aware since learning this at Tikun.

(33)
Chaim,
January 24, 2008 3:27 PM

WOW.

(32)
Ben W.,
November 20, 2007 11:02 PM

Thank You

Thank you Rabbi Weinberg for this wonderful article. I was looking for answer to the question of how do you show people that there are greater and more pleasurable things in life than sex, drugs and alcohol, and this article has helped me greatly. The question now is how to get this message out to people living in a 5th class pleasure world. A movie presenting the main character's progression through the 5 levels one by one, showing how the levels are incomparable with each other, yet 4th class is higher than 5th etc might be the best method. What do other readers think?

(31)
catherine Manna,
July 19, 2007 10:50 PM

absolutly fanstastic!

In order to connect with God, you have to learn to appreciate all the good He has done for you. That means giving up the illusion that you alone are responsible for your achievements. It's all a gift from God. Just as every stroke of Picasso's brush has his signature on it, everything in this world has God's signature on it. We have to learn to appreciate itLove this article thank you God bless you for your inspirational words. I appriciate the love that was put into these soulfull, words taken to the heart. May Gods Ruah ha kodesh continue to shine here in Aish! shalom Shabat

(30)
Elsa Galindo,
November 19, 2005 12:00 AM

Impressive

This can open anyone's eyes to a better life!

(29)
Anonymous,
October 31, 2005 12:00 AM

Your article was so true but then life is not always a bed of roses We all have to work very hard to apreciate on another We should also seek G-Ds help on our path through life with each other Love and honesty go hand in hand.Let us seek to enjoy both

Thank you for your article on Pleasure. I'm 24 years old and have found myself stuck in a rut. It is difficult to know how to live a fulfillng life when one's perspective is skewed. It was reassuring to be reminded that there is true Pleasure, not just contentment, when one seeks it in the right places.

(25)
Wajim,
June 9, 2004 12:00 AM

Connecting with GOD really is what matters

Its so nice to read this article it has really made my day and shall guide my life forever. I once used to ponder about some issues but it has realy put some things straight in my life, especially about living for the reason GOD made us. If we all strive to connect to GOD created us that that will be the ultimate .Thank you once again.

Thank you SO VERY much for your article on Pleasure. I am converting to Judaism. I find so much pleasure in it. I am growing by leaps and bounds and feel closer and closer to our Creator. Thank you for the RICH teachings.

(22)
Carole Rein,
September 27, 2003 12:00 AM

Thank you for the mindful inspiration

Beautiful descriptions of the five pleasures are reminders of the need to funnel our focus on what's really important. To really enjoy life is to appreciate its best and to be our best.

(21)
Eddie Bass,
August 11, 2003 12:00 AM

"Getting a life" in a nutshell.

Concise, relevant illustration. Opens the mind to the fact that God wants us to have pleasure in life, and to come to Him for the greatest of all spiritual destinations.

(20)
Kathleen Murphy,
August 8, 2003 12:00 AM

What a totally inspirational article, rules to live by everyday.

I was told to visit this sight by my teacher. I am amazed at what a wonderful website this is, thank you.
Kathleen

(19)
Dustin,
August 8, 2003 12:00 AM

amazing

your article is simply amazing. Thank you

(18)
bunny,
July 30, 2003 12:00 AM

great

I CONTINUE TO ENJOY YOUR TEACHINGS EACH TIME I RECEIVE THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS! I LEARN AND VALUE YOUR COMMENTS AND WISH YOU EVERY SUCCESS IN ALL YOU DO. YOU CERTAINLY HAVE ENLIGHTENED ME EVERY TIME. THANK YOU!

(17)
Anonymous,
March 3, 2003 12:00 AM

Thanks for the nudge!

Thank you so much. Of late I've been going through rather trying circumstances and this article, a gentle nudge from Hashem, put me back into perspective. Encountering Hashem truly is the primary pleasure Source from which all other pleasures richly flow.

(16)
Shelly Chomali,
February 5, 2003 12:00 AM

Great Article , keep up the great work !

(15)
Anonymous,
February 3, 2003 12:00 AM

Thank you

This article really opened my eyes and dissolved the mist of illusion that seems to cover life sometimes.

(14)
Robin Slovacek,
October 21, 2002 12:00 AM

It's mearning can not be measured . . .

Dear Rabbi Weinberg, thank you! I look forward reading your essays as I know they will be profound and filled with wisdom we can all use in our daily lives. To not only make ourselves into better people but also to touch the lives of others we come in contact with on a daily basis.

This essay was so profound and the lessons I learnt are immeasureable. Thank you again for sharing your wisdom. Best wishes.

(13)
Anonymous,
January 28, 2002 12:00 AM

Amazing

What a great piece.
Clarity strikes again even if only for the duration of reading this.
I'm so proud to be a jew and part of this amazing and wonderful life and have the opportunity to accomplish these five levels of pleasure.
Thanks

(12)
Beverley Dawson,
January 14, 2002 12:00 AM

Wonderful article- really makes one think!

I am not Jewish, but a Jewish friend of mine sent this to me. He wanted my opinion of the article. Each level of pleasure made me think of my different family members and friends. The article is very inspiring!
Thank you,
Beverley Dawson
Houston, Texas

(11)
Jeffrey Neubauer,
October 10, 2001 12:00 AM

A; spiritual path to travel throughout life.

Rabbi Noah Weinberg has completed a mitzvah in teaching the five pleasures of life. So clear and easy to listen to, the lecture had an immediate impact upon my view toward the pleasures of life.

(10)
ellie clifford,
June 27, 2001 12:00 AM

This was lovely to read, I am not Jewish although what the Rabbi was saying I was nodding my head in agreement. This writing makes me proud to be a human and helps me to undertsnd those moments when I am unsure it helps

(9)
Shifra Hastings,
June 6, 2001 12:00 AM

What a beautiful and inspirational essay. I am touched by Rabbi Weinberg's words, and find myself instantly more focused on what is important in my life, and appreciative of all the blessings Hashem has bestowed upon me. Thank you.

(8)
Anonymous,
June 5, 2001 12:00 AM

Great thinking..Please do not stop giving your thinking..God Bless you.Send me information regarding your articles anytime...We all live on the edge of eternity..

(7)
Anonymous,
June 1, 2001 12:00 AM

An Excellent ariticle !

A great article, Thanks a Lot !
i am not Jewish, i am from India and i just chanced upon the site and found this article to be very uplifting and motivating, it has given a new perspective to my life.
Thanks and please accept my heartfelt
appreciation

(6)
Jon Christner,
May 28, 2001 12:00 AM

Excellent

Shalom. Thank you Rabbi for your insights into G-d's wisdom and design for creation. It was most uplifting on what had been a "cloudy" day.

(5)
Anonymous,
February 7, 2001 12:00 AM

I am not Jewish, and have just recently discovered aish.com There is no way to express how profound an impact so many of the articles have had on me. This one, especially. I'm sure you are aware of how importantly your work is affecting the Jewish community, as is evident from the email responses. But please let me express my gratitude from those, like me, outside the Jewish community. I simply cannot find the words to express how precious this article and others are becoming to me.

(4)
Anonymous,
December 31, 2000 12:00 AM

Re: I think this was phenomenal.....

Dear Rabbi,

Thanks for this article. This article has brought meaning to my life just by reading it. I appreciate it!

(3)
Anonymous,
November 16, 2000 12:00 AM

I agree with you that when there is true meaning in life, only then can one experience real happiness. Superficial happiness is like condensation on a window which doesn't last.
Thank you for the beautiful article and the encouragement to continue striving for first class pleasure.

(2)
Anonymous,
November 10, 2000 12:00 AM

many thanks

Dear R. Weinberg,
thank you for this article. I'm proud to be a Jew. And I try to reach the stars.
Shabbat shalom!

(1)
Anonymous,
October 29, 2000 12:00 AM

Thank you

Meditating on your words led to an experience which is beyond words. Nevertheless, I was compelled to express this to you. Thank you; may many others also be deeply moved.

I've been striving to get more into spirituality. But it seems that every time I make some progress, I find myself slipping right back to where I started. I'm getting discouraged and feel like a failure. Can you help?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Spiritual slumps are a natural part of spiritual growth. There is a cycle that people go through when at times they feel closer to God and at times more distant. In the words of the Kabbalists, it is "two steps forward and one step back." So although you feel you are slipping, know that this is a natural process. The main thing is to look at your overall progress (over months or years) and be able to see how far you've come!

This is actually God's ingenious way of motivating us further. The sages compare this to teaching a baby how to walk. When the parent is holding on, the baby shrieks with delight and is under the illusion that he knows how to walk. Yet suddenly, when the parent lets go, the child panics, wobbles and may even fall.

At such times when we feel spiritually "down," that is often because God is letting go, giving us the great gift of independence. In some ways, these are the times when we can actually grow the most. For if we can move ourselves just a little bit forward, we truly acquire a level of sanctity that is ours forever.

Here is a practical tool to help pull you out of the doldrums. The Sefer HaChinuch speaks about a great principle in spiritual growth: "The external awakens the internal." This means that although we may not experience immediate feelings of closeness to God, eventually, by continuing to conduct ourselves in such a manner, this physical behavior will have an impact on our spiritual selves and will help us succeed. (A similar idea is discussed by psychologists who say: "Smile and you will feel happy.")

That is the power of Torah commandments. Even if we may not feel like giving charity or praying at this particular moment, by having a "mitzvah" obligation to do so, we are in a framework to become inspired. At that point we can infuse that act of charity or prayer with all the meaning and lift it can provide. But if we'd wait until being inspired, we might be waiting a very long time.

May the Almighty bless you with the clarity to see your progress, and may you do so with joy.

In 1940, a boatload 1,600 Jewish immigrants fleeing Hitler's ovens was denied entry into the port of Haifa; the British deported them to the island of Mauritius. At the time, the British had acceded to Arab demands and restricted Jewish immigration into Palestine. The urgent plight of European Jewry generated an "illegal" immigration movement, but the British were vigilant in denying entry. Some ships, such as the Struma, sunk and their hundreds of passengers killed.

If you seize too much, you are left with nothing. If you take less, you may retain it (Rosh Hashanah 4b).

Sometimes our appetites are insatiable; more accurately, we act as though they were insatiable. The Midrash states that a person may never be satisfied. "If he has one hundred, he wants two hundred. If he gets two hundred, he wants four hundred" (Koheles Rabbah 1:34). How often have we seen people whose insatiable desire for material wealth resulted in their losing everything, much like the gambler whose constant urge to win results in total loss.

People's bodies are finite, and their actual needs are limited. The endless pursuit for more wealth than they can use is nothing more than an elusive belief that they can live forever (Psalms 49:10).

The one part of us which is indeed infinite is our neshamah (soul), which, being of Divine origin, can crave and achieve infinity and eternity, and such craving is characteristic of spiritual growth.

How strange that we tend to give the body much more than it can possibly handle, and the neshamah so much less than it needs!